Category Archives: Reverb10

Day 23 – New Name. Let’s meet again, for the first time. If you could introduce yourself to strangers by another name for just one day, what would it be and why? (Author: Becca Wilcott)

My parents wanted to call me Laurie (#42 0n the most popular names list for 1962) but my big brothers refused. They had received Christmas gifts from their pen pals (do people still have pen pals?) in England – trucks, which are called lorries across the pond. They refused to have their baby sister named after a truck. Instead, I was named after a character in a book my mom was reading – she can’t remember the book. I love having a unique name. My mom went to all sorts of efforts to make sure I had magnets and stickers, even a license plate for my bike – all those important childhood mementos with my name inscribed upon them. It bugged me at times to have a name that I couldn’t find at Disneyland or Magic Mountain on some cheesy pen or hat or other such overpriced merchandise.

I have absolutely no idea what name I would use for a day. I never even had a bar name during college!

Day 22 – Travel. How did you travel in 2010? How and/or where would you like to travel next year?

I’m not sure what the author of this prompt intended – did she want me to talk about how I traveled or where I traveled. Two very different questions, if you ask me. I’ve pondered both but first, the stats:

Now for the how…There are times when the travel is simply a means to an end. Sometimes the travel is a pain in the a**! As wacky as this is, I remind myself to pay attention to my feet – it slows me down and reminds me to me mindful of those around me. It gives me a sense of place in the midst of rushing. That cranky traveler who is demanding and oblivious to anyone else around them might be flying to say goodbye to a loved one who is dying (been there, done that). That TSA agent is doing their job (even though I’ve encountered a few here and there who seem to have taken their authority to unwarranted levels).

My feet have taken me to holy places – and not just those commonly understood to be holy.

We traveled at Thanksgiving this year and with the concerns around “increased security” we gave ourselves plenty of time to get to the gate (a unique experience for the PDs)! As we entered the security line, an older couple came in behind us and their worried daughter gave them specific instructions, hugged them goodbye and stepped aside. I thought of the countless times I’ve done the same with my mom. I know she is quite capable of getting herself to the gate but worrying nonetheless. I could have ignored this couple. I could have been grateful that they were behind me rather than in front of me (you know what I mean, right?!). Instead, I decided to engage them in conversation and help them through the process. It didn’t take anything away from me and it gave me a holy moment, a sense that I was paying back to whoever has helped my mom through those lines during her trips. Holy moments, indeed.

Day 21 – Future Self. Imagine yourself five years from now. What advice would you give your current self for the year ahead? (Bonus: Write a note to yourself 10 years ago. What would you tell your younger self?) (Author: Jenny Blake)

I’m in a list mode – maybe it is the season (I’m making a list, and checking it twice). This is a wacky prompt. I think 5 year plans are somewhat useless. I’m all for having a direction, but if you ask me where I’ll be in 5 years I’ll tell you that I’m hoping to be a faithful child of God in whatever situation/location/career I find myself. But, I signed on for this Reverb10 thing so here goes:

exercise, exercise, exercise. No more excuses girl. Running isn’t it, and let’s be honest, that is for the best. Make the time to care for yourself

read more

do the stuff you love to do – time is too short

make those 3/4 day trips out to California – now

K2 will be driving in 5 years – now is the time to be fully present with her

Remind K2- daily – that she is smart, gentle, loving, beautiful and that you love her more than she can imagine. While you are at it, remind yourself of the same.

keep golfing – even if you have a lousy handicap!

date nights – plan, schedule, do it

save money

plan those pilgrimages – don’t give up the dream. They’ve made a difference for you and for the folks who have walked with you.

do what you want to do – not because you should but because you want to do them

Day 19 – Healing. What healed you this year? Was it sudden, or a drip-by-drip evolution? How would you like to be healed in 2011? (Author: Leonie Allan)

I love this prompt. I love that it doesn’t ask what was healed but how. Space to reflect, moments of grace, the gift of the Spirit – that is how. There were certainly times it felt as if it was sudden but I know too well that those moments of healing were gifts of hidden wholeness. Drip-by-drip, moment-by-moment, sometimes more slowly than I wished.

The third question of the prompt doesn’t follow in the same line of thinking (but what thinking really is linear except for you engineers out there – and you drive me crazy!) There are certainly areas where I hope for healing but instead of listing those I remind myself of the words from this hymn that are my prayer for this day and the challenge for me as I enter into a new year. Yep, today is my birthday.

Come and find the quiet centre
in the crowded life we lead,
find the room for hope to enter,
find the frame where we are freed:
clear the chaos and the clutter,
clear our eyes, that we can see
all the things that really matter,
be at peace, and simply be.

Silence is a friend who claims us,
cools the heat and slows the pace,
God it is who speaks and names us,
knows our being, touches base,
making space within our thinking,
lifting shades to show the sun,
raising courage when we’re shrinking,
finding scope for faith begun.

In the Spirit let us travel,
open to each other’s pain,
let our lives and fears unravel,
celebrate the space we gain:
there’s a place for deepest dreaming,
there’s a time for heart to care,
in the Spirit’s lively scheming
there is always room to spare!

I’ve enjoyed the prompts from Reverb10 and will get back to them soon but my mind has been reverberating around prompts of another kind. I’m holding onto light for a number of people facing difficult times and invite you to do the same during this season of Advent.

Pain reaches the heart with electrical speed, but truth moves to the heart as slowly as a glacier.

Day 14 – Appreciate What’s the one thing you have come to appreciate most in the past year? How do you express gratitude for it? (Author: Victoria Klein)

My brother. S is the epitome of “big brother.” He has always been present in my life. When I wanted a pair of Adidas tennies, before my feet had stopped growing and mom and dad said no, he bought them for me for my birthday. He showed up for the league finals in my freshman year when I was running for the championship (and I won!). He called and gave my mom a “talking-to” when he was worried about the senior I was dating (my mom’s words: “not all seniors are like you!”). He sold our car when we left for seminary; trusted me with his newborn son; picked us up at the airport when my dad was dying with a hug only he could give; sends me silly notes; listens to me vent; cares for my daughter as if she is his own; calls me just to talk; worries about my mom with me. I could not ask for a better brother.

Shared history and a future that will always include each other. Thanks be to God for you, big brother.

But I do have dreams and aspirations. I love snow days! Unexpected gifts and time to be. Today’s prompt from Reverb10 is perfect for a day of reflection and laziness, decorating and baking.

Day 13 – Action When it comes to aspirations, it’s not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen. What’s your next step? (Author: Scott Belsky)

I have two dreams that I’m pondering of late: one is to learn how to play piano and the other is to learn how to paint (watercolor, I think). My dilemma whenever I start something new is my desire to be excellent at the get-go. I want to be able to play piano like Miriam or John. I want to paint like Kenny Decker or Georgia O’Keefe. I like to start small. Sigh.

The next step is to decide which one to follow

Piano

we don’t have a piano but we do have keyboards (not weighted keys, though)

playing piano is not weather dependent

it will require regular practice (that can be a plus or a minus!)

will I have to play silly songs at the beginning (I’m picturing learning Aura Lee on the guitar when I was in 4th grade – Aura Lee?)

I need to find a teacher that is good for adults

I have some musical background but have never learned to read music – rhythms, yes; notes, no.

Painting

supplies will need to be purchased

where do I paint? I’m guessing I would need to set up/tear down wherever I do end up painting

weather dependent – at least to an extent. Although I bet I could do a great painting of the winter white-out happening outside today!

where to take lessons?

What else do I need to consider? Which would you choose? I’d love to hear your words of wisdom.

Day 12 – Body Integration This year, when did you feel the most integrated with your body? Did you have a moment where there wasn’t mind and body, but simply a cohesive YOU, alive and present? (Author: Patrick Reynolds)

Sometimes, more frequently than I’d like to admit, I don’t take the time to enjoy the moment and am rushed to get through it all as if it is one more task to check off the list. One night last week I remined myself to be fully present as I helped K2 get ready. She listens to music to fall asleep and lately it has been Christmas music. Some cheeseball song came on and she started singing along using her hand as a puppet and I joined in. We laughed, she grinned and I soaked it in. Fully present.

Day 11 – 11 Things What are 11 things your life doesn’t need in 2011? How will you go about eliminating them? How will getting rid of these 11 things change your life? (Author: Sam Davidson)

The Fiercely Independent 5 from our Ghost Ranch Pilgrimage walked the labyrinth at the neighboring church this morning – after taking about an hour to shovel the snow off of it! That is dedication. I pondered today’s question as I prayed and walked. Here goes:

sensory overload – time for quiet in each day

self-doubt – enough said

too many nights out in a week – stick to my rule of no more than 2 meetings per week

focusing on what I can’t do (like run a marathon) – focus on what I can do